{{Short description|American modeling agency}} {{for|the vehicles|List of Ford vehicles}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox company | name = Ford Models | logo = Ford Models wordmark.svg | type = Private | founded = {{start date and age|1946}} | founder = Eileen Ford<br />Gerard W. Ford | hq_location = 11 E. 26th St., 14th Floor, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | key_people = | industry = Fashion | products = | revenue = | num_employees = | owner = Privately owned<ref name="wwd-acquired">{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Kali |date=2020-05-14 |title=Ford Models Acquired by Brazilian Outpost |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/mergers-acquisitions/ford-models-agency-acquired-by-brazilian-outpost-amid-coronavirus-1203634012/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=WWD |language=en-US |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529221059/https://wwd.com/business-news/mergers-acquisitions/ford-models-agency-acquired-by-brazilian-outpost-amid-coronavirus-1203634012/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | website = {{URL|fordmodels.com}} }}
'''Ford Models''', originally the '''Ford Modeling Agency''', is an American international modeling agency based in New York City. It was established in 1946 by Eileen Ford and her husband Gerard W. Ford.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0285732/bio|title = Biography for Katie Ford|publisher = Internet Movie Database|access-date = 2008-09-21|archive-date = March 10, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160310204516/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0285732/bio|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fordmodelsblog.com/about/ |title= About « Ford Models Blog|website=fordmodelsblog.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217175313/http://fordmodelsblog.com/about/ |archive-date=February 17, 2011}}</ref>
==History== ===20th century=== Eileen and Jerry began the business in their Manhattan home in 1946. In the late 20th century, the company emerged as one of the preeminent New York City-based modeling agencies.
In the 1970s, like many of the original modeling agencies, Ford began facing competition from other leading agencies, including Women Management, IMG Models, and others.
In 1980, the company established Ford Models Supermodel of the World, which attracted more than 60,000 hopefuls annually from around the world. Today, the contest lives on in the form of the annual V/VMan Ford Model Search run in conjunction with the two Visionaire publications.
Ford's competition increased even further in the 1980s when John Casablancas opened Elite Model Management, leading to greatly intensified competition among the largest agencies.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,949003,00.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526050729/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,949003,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 26, 2012 | magazine=Time | title=Living: Come with Me to Casablancas | date=August 25, 1980 | access-date=May 2, 2010}}</ref>
The agency has represented a diverse list of models and celebrities.
In 1995, the Fords' daughter, Katie Ford, was appointed as the chief executive officer of the agency, which she led for 12 years.
===21st century=== In the early 21st century, the company diversified through Ford Artists to represent talent in the hair, makeup and wardrobe industries. It has also promoted itself through its social media platform, which includes Ford Models Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Ford Models has also lent its name to an imprint of Random House books, which created a series of teen novels that served to try and glamorize working with the agency.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/glamourhistory0000gund |url-access=registration |quote=gabbana. |page=[https://archive.org/details/glamourhistory0000gund/page/369 369] |title=Glamour: A History |author=Stephen Gundle |publisher=Oxford University press |year=2008|isbn=9780199210985 }}</ref>
In December 2000, Magnum Sports and Entertainment signed a letter of intent to acquire Ford Models, but the transaction fell through.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magnum tells SEC back's to the wall |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2001/12/03/This-Weeks-Issue/Magnum-Tells-SEC-Back146s-To-The-Wall.aspx |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |date=December 3, 2001 |language=en |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210143405/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2001/12/03/This-Weeks-Issue/Magnum-Tells-SEC-Back146s-To-The-Wall.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2007, John Caplan was appointed Ford Models' chief executive officer.<ref name="Httpwwwfordmodelscommiscpress_releasehtml">{{cite web |url=http://www.fordmodels.com/misc/press_release.html |title=Katie Ford announced that Stonetower, the prestigious private equity company has made an investment of the sale of the majority |access-date=2009-05-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725074559/http://www.fordmodels.com/misc/press_release.html |archive-date=July 25, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In December 2007, the Fords sold a stake of their to private equity firm Stone Tower Equity Partners.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0733153D:US |title=Stone Tower Equity Partners LLC - Company Profile and News - Bloomberg Markets |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-02 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602220619/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0733153D:US |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-12-05 |title=Ford Models Inc. Announces Strategic Investment |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2007-12-05/ford-models-inc-announces-strategic-investment |access-date=2022-12-10}}</ref>
In 2009, the firm was renamed Altpoint Capital Partners in 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Eric|date=2014-07-10|title=Eileen Ford, Grande Dame of the Modeling Industry, Dies at 92|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/business/eileen-ford-a-founder-of-top-modeling-agency-dies-at-92.html|access-date=2020-06-06|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126173740/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/11/business/eileen-ford-a-founder-of-top-modeling-agency-dies-at-92.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Altpoint is operated by managing partner Gerald Banks, also known as Guerman Aliev,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gerald Banks / Guerman Aliev |url=https://geraldbanks.com/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=Gerald Banks / Guerman Aliev |language=en-US |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210150045/https://geraldbanks.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and owned and funded by Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin through his holding company Interros.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DePuyt |first=Bruce |date=2018-07-14 |title=FBI, State Probe Russian Oligarch's Ties to Maryland Election Board Contractor |url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/07/14/fbi-state-probe-russian-oligarch-39-s-ties-to-maryland-election-board-contractor/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=Maryland Matters |language=en-US |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210150046/https://www.marylandmatters.org/2018/07/14/fbi-state-probe-russian-oligarch-39-s-ties-to-maryland-election-board-contractor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2011, Altpoint increased its stake in Ford Models to 93%.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wachtel |first=Katya |title=Meet The Russian Fund Manager And Former Merrill Banker Who Gets Paid To Manage Supermodels |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-fund-manager-merrill-lynch-ford-models-in-penthouse-art-gallery-2011-3 |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606145252/https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-fund-manager-merrill-lynch-ford-models-in-penthouse-art-gallery-2011-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2011, the company diversified into the art gallery business under the leadership of chairman Guerman Aliev.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Orden|first=Erica|date=2011-01-12|title=Ford Models on Exhibit|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703791904576076113727719484|access-date=2020-06-06|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110230619/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703791904576076113727719484|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Wachtel|first=Katya|title=Meet The Russian Fund Manager And Former Merrill Banker Who Gets Paid To Manage Supermodels|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-fund-manager-merrill-lynch-ford-models-in-penthouse-art-gallery-2011-3|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Business Insider|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606145252/https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-fund-manager-merrill-lynch-ford-models-in-penthouse-art-gallery-2011-3|url-status=live}}</ref>
In May 2020, Ford Models Brasil purchased Ford Models from Altpoint amidst uncertainty related to covid-accelerated industry digitalization and the lack of a CEO at Ford Models for a number of months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2020 |title=Ford Models Brasil acquires Ford Models, Inc. to create global talent management platform
|url=https://www.fordmodels.com/public-relations |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=www.fordmodels.com |archive-date=June 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606142410/https://www.fordmodels.com/public-relations |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="wwd-acquired" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Ford Models Brasil acquires Ford Models, Inc. to create global talent management platform|url=https://www.fordmodels.com/public-relations|access-date=2020-06-06|website=www.fordmodels.com|archive-date=June 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606142410/https://www.fordmodels.com/public-relations|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Ford Artists== In addition to modeling, the agency diversified into other fields of representation related to the fashion industry through '''Ford Artists''', including hair stylists, makeup artists, manicurists, stylists, set designers, prop stylists, art directors, and photographers. Ford Artists maintains locations in Chicago and Los Angeles.<ref name="fordartists1">{{cite web|title=Ford Artists Website|url=http://www.fordartists.com/|access-date=December 10, 2011|archive-date=February 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207095747/http://www.fordartists.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Headquarters and locations== In addition to its global headquarters on 26th Street in Manhattan, Ford Models has offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Paris, and Barcelona.<ref name="fordartists1"/>
==Models== As of January 2022, Ford Models represents the following models:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fordmodels.com/portfolios/28346/16de?division=263 |title=Ford Models |website=www.fordmodels.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226092414/http://www.fordmodels.com/portfolios/28346/16de?division=263 |archive-date=26 February 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/agencies/ford-models-new-york/ |title=Ford Models – New York – Modeling Agency – Profile with contact details and their models on FMD – MVA verified agency |publisher=Fashionmodeldirectory.com |access-date=2012-02-18 |archive-date=February 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228094808/http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/agencies/ford-models-new-york/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090129195348/http://www.fordrbatalent.com/actors_women.htm Actors-Women, FORD/RBA (Scottsdale)]}}</ref>
{{Div col|colwidth=18em}} * Barbara Palvin * Sigrid Agren * Monica Aksamit * Charlene Almarvez * Alex Binaris * Kacey Carrig * Estelle Chen * Mischa Cohen * Oliver Cheshire * Sora Choi * Hailey Clauson * Cintia Dicker * Daniel Di Tomasso * Cora Emmanuel * Kelly Gale * David Gandy * Kris Grikaite * Kenya Kinski-Jones * Ella Halikas * Sui He * Calisto Catawnee * Brad Kroenig * Alexandra Micu * Hannah Motler * Alison Nix * Radhika Nair * Giselle Norman * Andreja Pejić * Tyson Ritter * Charo Ronquillo * Miriam Sánchez * Paul Sculfor * Evandro Soldati * Hana Soukupová * Fran Summers * Caroline Trentini {{div col end}}
==See also== * List of modeling agencies
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://fordmodels.com/}} * [http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/agencies/ford-models-new-york/ Ford Models – New York] in ''Fashion Model Directory''
{{Authority control}}
Category:1946 establishments in New York City Category:Entertainment companies established in 1946 Category:Modeling agencies Category:Privately held companies based in New York City